Singapore's Jurong Shipyard Pte Ltd. (a subsidiary of Sembcorp Marine) has signed a US$84 million contract with German shipowner Reederei F. Laeisz (RFL) for the construction of two 2,600 TEU container vessels.

The design of the 2,600 TEU vessel is proprietary to Jurong Shipyard. The ships will have a speed of 22.7 knots and will have a capacity for more than 1,960 TEU at 14 ton per TEU. Each container vessels will have 400 reefers and with an ability to carry two-tier high cubes in every cargo hold.

Delivery of the first unit is scheduled in March 2006 with the second unit due in September 2006.

Mr Chua Teck Lian, SembCorp Marine's Senior Vice President of Marketing said: "We are pleased that the design of our 2,600 TEU container series is well received by customers. The idea of building the container vessels was mooted in 2002 in anticipation of an expected rise in demand for this size of containership. This decision coincides with the rising market trend, corresponding firming of prices for container vessels and at the same time meeting the owner's delivery schedules."